Refined Products, Gasoline

January 15, 2025

Platts proposes to amend quality specifications for Middle East gasoline assessments

Platts, part of S&P Global Commodity Insights, proposes to amend the quality specifications reflected in its assessments of RON 92 and RON 95 gasoline cargoes loading from the Middle East, effective July 1, 2025.

Under the proposal, Platts FOB Fujairah outright assessments and the RON 92, RON 95 Arab Gulf FOB and CFR spot differential assessments would reflect gasoline specifications in line with the Euro 5 fuel standard with a maximum sulfur content of 0.001% (10 parts per million) from July 1 onward. The proposal follows feedback that gasoline exports from the Middle East have evolved to a higher fuel quality standard in recent years.

Proposed new Middle East gasoline specifications:

Property Unit Proposed Standard Current Standard
Research Octane Number - Min 92, Min 95 Min 92, Min 95
Motor Octane Number - Min 82, Min 85 Min 82, Min 85
Appearance - Bright Clear and free from water & suspended impurities Clear
Odor - Marketable Marketable
Color - Undyed Undyed
Corrosion, Copper Strip (3 Hrs at 50°C) - Max 1 Max 1
Density at 15°C g/ml 0.72-0.775 0.72-0.78
Distillation
10% vol recovered at (°C) °C Max 80 Max 80
50% vol recovered at (°C) °C Min 80, Max 125 Min 80, Max 120
90% vol recovered at (°C) °C Max 180 Max 180
End point (°C) °C Max 205 Max 210
Residue vol % Max 2 Max 2
Doctor Test - Negative Negative
Gum, Existent mg/100 ml Max 5 Max 4
Induction Period minutes Min 360 Min 480
Lead Content gPb/l Max 0.005 (no intentional addition) Max 0.013
Reid Vapor Pressure at 37.8° C psi Max 9 Max 9
Sulfur wt % Max 0.001 Max 0.01
Oxygen Content wt% 2.7 -
Allowed oxygenates (If added) vol % Max 15 (of which maximum MTBE content of 10.0) Max 15 (of which maximum MTBE content of 10.0)
Alcohol - No additions of any alcohol No additions of any alcohol
Aromatics vol % Max 35 Max 35
Benzene vol % Max 1 Max 1
Olefins vol % Max 18 Max 18
Additives - No metal additives; no metal octane boosters No metal additives; no metal octane boosters
Manganese mg/100 ml 2.0 Maximum -
Iron (Fe) mg/100 ml No iron-based Octane enhancing additive permitted -

The proposed changes in gasoline specifications for the Middle East would not affect the FOB Arab Gulf 92 and 95 RON netback assessments, which derive their values from the price assessments at the trading hub of Singapore after adjusting for shipping costs. These will continue to mirror the existing FOB Singapore gasoline specifications.

Platts periodically reviews the specifications of its assessments to ensure they are representative of the most tradable grades.

Please send any feedback or questions to asia_products@spglobal.com and pricegroup@spglobal.com by Feb. 28, 2025.

For written comments, please provide a clear indication if comments are not intended for publication by Platts for public viewing.

Platts will consider all comments received and will make comments not marked as confidential available upon request.